Merchant Of Doom

Is Wal-Mart the main street merchant of doom or the bitter rivalry of smaller business owners In 1962, when Sam Walton opened his first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas, he was convinced that consumers would enjoy a discount store that offered a wide selection of merchandise, with everyday low prices, and personal, friendly service. Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, led Wal-Mart forward for thirty years creating the global powerhouse that it is today, in the retail industry. Many people claim that Wal-Mart practices ?bully-like? business strategies when it moves in to town and eventually runs most of the smaller retail businesses out of business. However, in today?s society, America is the land of the free and people can choose to establish free enterprise businesses that may or may not conflict with other businesses.
During the early years of Wal-Mart?s business growth plan; it began expanding into smaller rural communities where the people were tired of dealing with the local price-fixing merchants. The local ?mom and pop? and main street stores could not compete with the low prices that Wal-Mart offered to its consumers, therefore Wal-Mart?s expansion